So it’s been a year since Cuba and the US restored diplomatic ties. The US is trying hard to re-engage and Cuba is listening. But until the embargo is properly lifted, the diplomatic winter is not going to turn into a nice Cuban summer.

The country is coming in from the cold and the US flag flies again outside its embassy. There’s still no US ambassador yet though. Obama hasn’t appointed one, and in the meantime the post is filled by an interim Chargé d’Affaires, Jeffrey DeLaurentis.

Since ties were restored in July last year, Obama has lifted a number of trade and travel restrictions using the President’s executive authority.

Right now, tourism is technically still illegal under the terms of the US embargo. The rollback of restrictions allows 12 exemptions to the ban, all under the banner of ‘purposeful travel’. So medical travel, religious travel, or cultural tourism are all allowed.